Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/33

 supply of Moisture, than of much Earth, I will give you an experiment, which-may seem to determine the point, though I yet suspend my Judgment.

took the largest of Kentish Codlins, Pearmains, Pepins and Deuxans; I wither'd them (which may be soon done many ways;) and then I cut them in the midle quite through the midst of the kernels, having carried them some dayes in my pocquet; all that saw them, took them to be very wood, and they were indeed like very close Cork. And some Philosophical persons (though I affirm'd no falshood, but concea'd the whole matter) did upon the view spread it abroad, that I had the Art of converting all Fruit into Wood; pulp and kernels and all was wood. The same may be done upon Pears, Cowcumbers, Turnips, and all the Grains and Vegetable Seeds, that are stuck in them, and are cherish'd by a supply of Marly Water. Thus I have had the blades of Wheat and the helme of Pease grow out of them to the length of a foot, and then by hanging it in a closet, all becoms turn'd into wood; and in some time after, all is turnd into Dust and Earth. And as we are well taught by Master Boyle, that pure Liquids may be converted into Earth; so these Terrestrial parts of the Fruit may be from the Liquors thither collected, and derived from the Mass of the Earth.

But to return to the clearing of the affinities above claimed; I Instance in Berbery roots, perforated by me, which bore Berries, that had no stones at all: And in hollow'd Apple-trees the kernels will be very thin, and empty skins, and incapable of growth. Gardeners tell me, that if you take the hard stick out of the root of Parsly, it will bear no kind seed. But it may be objected, that-a very hollow Oak and an hollow Elme doe bear pregnant seed. I answer, that an Elme is all Timber to the Bark; and an Oak, when 'tis all putrid at the heart, yet may have firm wood enough to convey the Spirit of the root into the Acorn; and the Roots may be found, when the Body of the Tree is much decayed by rain, beating in at the lopp'd tops, or by other passages through the Bark. We see, that Beans, Wheat, and other Grain grow kindly, if the Eyes and parts next adjoining be whole, though the Beans be lull of great holes in other parts, or the main body of the Wheat be cut off with Scissers. Rh